https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:46:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-public-transportation#post-2769961 Sat, 26 Aug 2017 07:57:13 +0000 Shree1990 2769961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your situation sounds much more appealing to me. My choice was between 40 minutes drive if I go alone, and 1 hour and a half with the car pool. But I still took the car pool. It allowed me to make friends and that extra time helped me sort out a few things for myself. The greatest feeling was that I was doing something for my environment and I consider it the best investment in my child's future. A healthy earth. So I would encourage you to take the more eco-friendly option for your overall benefit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-public-transportation#post-2769839 Fri, 25 Aug 2017 11:51:21 +0000 periwinklebee 2769839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: Mine is done through my employer. I don't have to do anything, the cost of my transit pass is just taken out of my paycheck, and they automatically take care of it being pre-tax. I don't know exactly, but maybe if you don't have this option it can just be claimed on tax forms ex post or something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-public-transportation#post-2769829 Fri, 25 Aug 2017 11:42:04 +0000 codeitall 2769829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ah! I had a huge response to each of you written up and it disappeared! Ugh. Well, basically you've convinced me ;)</p> <p>I'll check the notice period from daycare and make sure my brother in the area is alright being on call. Charging up my kindle paperwhite to get more reading in and considering going down to one car!</p> <p>@periwinklebee: Do you know if the pre-tax has to be done through the employer? I negotiated my salary to account for them not having a program for public transit. Is it like an HSA where I get the taxes back when I file my taxes if I pay with post-tax dollars? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-public-transportation#post-2769667 Thu, 24 Aug 2017 17:37:50 +0000 PawPrints 2769667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a huge proponent of public transit and ride it every day. It enables us to be a one-car family, and even that car has less than 5,000 miles on it in the last 12 months. It's so freeing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-public-transportation#post-2769627 Thu, 24 Aug 2017 14:47:06 +0000 catlady 2769627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have only ever taken public transportation (or walked) to work, so I'd obviously choose that. Hehe. Our daycare gives us an hour lead time if they call and need us to pick up the kids, so I would check on that. But otherwise, the situation you describe is similar to ours (currently, I can walk 30 min to work, and DH has a 45 min commute on public transportation). It's worked out fine for years now. We are lucky that our daycare is extremely close to our home and that has helped in terms of dealing with drop-off/pick-up since technically either of us can do it even though usually it's me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-public-transportation#post-2769621 Thu, 24 Aug 2017 14:06:17 +0000 periwinklebee 2769621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I take public transit to work everyday and love it, and will continue to do so after I have a baby in January. We're lucky that we got a spot in a great daycare right next to the station, but even if we ultimately find a different daycare I would try to make it work to cut down on the stress of commuting. I'm assuming that the public transit you have access to is reasonably reliable. </p> <p>Another thing to consider if you do it is that you're allowed to pay up to a certain amount for public transit pre-tax, and many employers will subsidize a share of public transit. I end up after the subsidy paying $40/month, most of which is pre-tax. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-public-transportation#post-2769601 Thu, 24 Aug 2017 13:12:38 +0000 sauerkraut 2769601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In your situation, I'd take public transit. I'd probably drive kiddo to daycare, park at the station, and let the daycare know that I'm 40 minutes away in case of emergency (you won't be the only one who can't respond within 10 minutes if daycare calls). Maybe check in with friends/family/neighbors to see if there's someone you could call on who works or lives closer to daycare who could respond quickly if there was a true emergency.<br /> I loved being able to ride public transit when I lived somewhere it was possible. You can actually do something on the train (I read so much). Now I feel like commuting by car sucks up two hours of every day that could be put to much better use. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-public-transportation#post-2769593 Thu, 24 Aug 2017 12:31:56 +0000 avivoca 2769593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I could take public transit, I would do it, hands-down. Theoretically, I CAN take the bus from my daycare, but it's a lot faster for me to drive, even with traffic (the bus would take AT LEAST an hour). So in an ideal world, I would drive to daycare, park, drop-off, and then take the bus.</p> <p>I did take the bus downtown when I was on jury duty and it was awesome. I loved it and it only took 30 minutes because it was an 'express' line. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-public-transportation#post-2769591 Thu, 24 Aug 2017 12:29:28 +0000 erinbaderin 2769591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think in your situation, I would take public transit. I'm in a similar situation and have drive, but the difference for me is that the public transit I would be taking is the bus, which goes on the same highways I'm driving on, so traffic is going to be a factor either way. Public transit would be cheaper, but not necessarily faster or more convenient. For you, it sounds like it will be faster and more convenient, so I think the trade off of less flexibility is worth it. If there was a daycare emergency that absolutely couldn't wait for the next train you could take a taxi - it wouldn't be cheap but in that kind of huge emergency you probably wouldn't care. Most things (kid has a fever, etc) can wait a little bit. My job is, best case scenario, a 45 minute drive from daycare (assuming my kids get sick at 3am on a weekend :wink: ) and it's never been a problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-public-transportation#post-2769573 Thu, 24 Aug 2017 11:35:29 +0000 codeitall 2769573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well ladies, I got the job! :grin: But now my little commute of 15 minutes with the daycare dropoff... is going to be at least 25 minutes (with no daycare stop and without traffic haha). Plus, construction on the freeway exits around my new office starts up in a few months, and will run for a couple years :shocked: But taking the train is only 35 minutes with a bonus of a little walk to my office building.</p> <p>My train station is an 8 min drive from my house and 5 min drive from daycare. So I'd still have to drive to the station. And it only runs every half hour.</p> <p>In theory, I could also carpool with someone else in my neighborhood, but she has a daycare drop off too and neither of our cars can handle all 3 car seats.</p> <p>Basically, for those of you that take public transportation (or carpool), is it worth losing some convenience/flexibility? How do you handle daycare drop off and pickup? What happens if you have a daycare emergency? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids/page/2#post-2707923 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 14:00:27 +0000 purplelilac 2707923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: I am with you on team minivan!<br /> Previously we had an older Subaru outback and a Volvo V70 wagon, but with two kids we could not fit a third adult in the back seat. In addition, my husband is tall and could not sit in front of the seat with the RF seat. We bought a Sienna (only minivan with AWD) and though I have my complaints about Toyota as a company, I LOVE having a van. Seriously its amazing. We can fit lots of stuff and lots of people at the same time. My husband and I sit in the 3rd row when his parents are visiting and there is ample space back there. And with a third child now on the way I cannot imagine life without a van. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids/page/2#post-2707917 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 13:57:02 +0000 Mrs D 2707917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Well that makes a big difference...I never got a V8! I couldnt care less how quickly my car accelerates... ;) I am in Michigan - so its probably a Michigan thing...I have never had to have significant service on any of the 3 I've owned so I have been lucky...but value I had in the I simply couldnt justify going to a different car...my cherokee essentially cost me $5K to drive for 4.5 years and my grand cherokee was more like $8K for 4 years.</p> <p>But I am team minivan for now! I would have gotten the Sienne if I had employee pricing with Toyota - my sister has it and I am so envious of her AWD. I'm loving the Pacifica! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids/page/2#post-2707909 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 13:49:19 +0000 gingerbebe 2707909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: My husband is from snowy Michigan and everyone in his family drives Jeeps but we live in Northern California and we just don't need a V8 vehicle with AWD. The mileage was atrocious, the maintenance was ridiculously expensive, the tires cost a fortune, every time a light went off I would cringe because it was ALWAYS a $200 repair of some kind. I have never spent so much money on a car in my entire life. DH is floored by how cheap our Sienna is to drive - he had no idea others didn't spend the kind of money he spent to maintain his Jeeps all these years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids/page/2#post-2707908 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 13:48:56 +0000 skipra 2707908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a Rav4 when we had 2 kids and it was OK but you can't really use the middle seat and are not allowed 3 car seats. If there is even the slightest chance of a third, do not even consider this car. I wish we had gotten a CR-V instead because we would have kept it when we had our third. I prefer the size of those SUVs over the Pilot. We have a Pilot now because we figured if we were buying a new car we should get something that we could carry more than just our family. It is huge and the gas mileage sucks. But we can fit 3 across easily and have a third row too. If you have 2 car seats you could even have them next to each other so a third person could sit on the outside.<br /> @Mrs D: we bought ours used with more miles than I would have liked. I wasn't willing to finance or lease a car so that's just what worked for us. I really wanted a Highlander hybrid which was even more expensive so I guess it's all relative! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids/page/2#post-2707894 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 13:37:48 +0000 snowjewelz 2707894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a CRV where my 27 mo old is rear facing behind passenger, and baby is in infant seat in the middle so I can still sit in the back with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids/page/2#post-2707885 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 13:29:55 +0000 Mrs D 2707885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All you ladies that are Honda Pilot fans - how did you level set with the price point? I was floored how much it was...now granted I was leasing not buying...</p> <p>@gingerbebe: I think you are the first person ever I have heard not love their Jeep! I'm the crazy person anxiously awaiting the wagoneer for a third row Jeep option!!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids/page/2#post-2707871 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 12:57:42 +0000 babynumber1 2707871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: We are team Honda Pilot and I will get another one when this one needs replacing. I love this car more than my husband some days! (just kidding!!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids/page/2#post-2707845 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 12:28:17 +0000 gingerbebe 2707845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: My husband had literally only driven Jeep Grand Cherokees since he was 18 so he was like ummmm what. But I HATTTTTED our last one and I was pregnant with our second and I was like if I'm schlepping two boys around I need power sliding doors and a power lift gate. He was like FINE because I was seething about our Jeep every other week (it's a fine car but SUCH a money pit).</p> <p>Long story short, he was surprised by how nicely the V6 of our Sienna drove (being used to his honkin V8) and lovvvvved the power sliding doors and lift gate and thought the seats were so comfy and roomy (he's a tall guy). And then slowly over time he basically started gravitating to the van whenever he needed to go somewhere. Annnnd now he's a die hard fan and drives it more than I do. </p> <p>I've also gotten the reputation as the minivan enabler among my friends. I'm always hissing MINI. VAN. MINI. VAN. Come to the dark side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids/page/2#post-2707835 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 11:59:16 +0000 avivoca 2707835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Oh how I want to join team minivan! My husband is so resistant though, but we have two kids and a dog and drive a Nissan Versa (compact car) and yes, anytime we go anywhere and need to bring stuff home we are bursting at the gills with things practically coming out the windows. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids/page/2#post-2707806 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 11:01:23 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2707806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love our Nisaan Pathfinder! It has an optional 3rd row that folds down for extra cargo space. Even with it up, it has decent cargo space with leg room for anyone who sits back there. I'd highly recommend it. We currently have a 4.5 year old in a harness booster and a rear facing convertible, and there's still plenty of room for me to sit in between them if the 18 month old in the convertible gets cranky. The seat slides forward with a carseat in it for access to the 3rd row, so there's no uninstalling or crawling over to get back there. </p> <p>People complain about the gas mileage, but we've found that if you put it in 2WD on nice days, you save on gas mileage. We only ever use the 4WD in snow or ice. We get about 20mpg. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids#post-2707710 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 08:32:00 +0000 catgirl 2707710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: I'm not a huge help because we only have one LO and our crossover feels too small but just wanted to say if you are looking at Ford's try to avoid the trim levels that come with inflatable seat belts. Only a few car seats are compatible with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids#post-2707690 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 07:39:17 +0000 ShootingStar 2707690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm another one for team mini van. We have a new Pacifica on order and I can't wait until it gets here. </p> <p>I have a fairly good sized SUV - Toyota Venza, and we are just constantly running out of space. I feel crammed in the passenger seat because the bucket seat's behind it. And DS barely has any leg room behind the driver. We have a full size stroller that I love, but with that in the trunk if we do any shopping at all, the car's completely full. God forbid we do a target run and a grocery trip at the same time.</p> <p>I'm really looking forward to when our van gets here. Plus it'll be DH's car, so I get all the benefits but I don't have to drive it :grin: . </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids#post-2707684 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 05:20:00 +0000 misolee 2707684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to drive and love love a 2012 Highlander. Love love loved it. But when I got pregnant with my second, we installed an infant car seat along with FF convertible car seat and it was too small. There was no middle seat latch so we had to install the car seats at the ends which was nbd itself but we quicky realized no adult or even an older child like a 5th grader could ever sit in the middle seat. There was no room. We also had a third row but with both car seats, you couldn't access it bc you had to fold a seat to get to the back. Right before I was due, My brother came through town for a business trip and we picked him up for dinner. He had to go through the trunk bc we had already installed the car seats. :shocked: </p> <p>My husband dragged me to car dealerships a week postpartum and made me get a minivan. (Toyota Sienna). I resisted and cried a little bc I loved the Highlander but after I started driving the minivan I haven't looked back :silly: </p> <p>FYI. I have a mom friend with 4 year old triplets and her husband drives the Pilot with three car seats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids#post-2707664 Wed, 08 Mar 2017 22:58:04 +0000 SeptMomma12 2707664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We LOVE our 2016 Honda Pilot! I would suggest at least test driving it. My husband wasn't a fan and now he's more obsessed with it than I am! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids#post-2707662 Wed, 08 Mar 2017 22:40:37 +0000 FannyMae 2707662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: I have a VW Passat Wagon, and I'm thoroughly converted to loving VW for life. Love the boot space! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids#post-2707626 Wed, 08 Mar 2017 20:45:02 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2707626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: I love the ford explorer, thats on my list to go see! We get maybe 1-2 ice/ snow storms a year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids#post-2707624 Wed, 08 Mar 2017 20:34:29 +0000 erinbaderin 2707624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a VW Golf Wagon and I love it. Fits two car seats with room for me to squeeze in the middle if necessary (although not super comfortable), and has a tonne of trunk space as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids#post-2707620 Wed, 08 Mar 2017 20:23:51 +0000 Modern Daisy 2707620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love our explorer with 2 kids! But when we upgrade I want an Acadia with captains chairs. I live in the north east so minivans are fine, but it does get icy in the winter so suvs are better. Plenty of trunk space, 3rd row for guests and all of the features you would want in a car/SUV. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids#post-2707615 Wed, 08 Mar 2017 20:15:59 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2707615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: hahaha this made me laugh. It is so funny because my husband LOVES mini vans. Right now we just have 1 car since we moved and haven't needed another yet and every now and then when we do need one we just rent one for the weekend and he gets so excited to rent a mini van. I love other peoples mini vans, they are the best to drive in. I just can't bring myself to get a minivan yet. I am still in denial that I am having a second kid and still feel like I am playing grown up some days haha :silly: I know I should get over it though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-suvcar-for-2-kids#post-2707610 Wed, 08 Mar 2017 20:02:21 +0000 gingerbebe 2707610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going to start the slow chant for minivans.</p> <p>Mini. Van.<br /> Mini. Van.<br /> Mini. Van.</p> <p>My husband is a full convert to our Sienna. This week he was like "Do you know what the greatest car in the world is? OUR VAN."</p> <p>Anyways, unless you live in a really rough wintry place with lots of snow and ice, I would NOT recommend a Jeep Grand Cherokee. </p>